Self-cleaning spark plug



A Oct. 1s, 1927.

, L 1,645,708 E. W. LOCKENVITZ SELF CLEANING SPARK PLUG Filed Nov Patented'oa 1s, 1927.

A...1.6455308 PATENT OFFICE..

UNITED STATES EDWARD W. LOCKENVITZ, OF IIBLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.v

' SELF-CLEANING SPARK PLUG.

Application led November 24, 1928.' Serial No.. 150,384.

My invention relates to self cleaning spark plugs for gasoline engines, and has for its object to rovide a means whereby la spark plug vof t e type described may be cleaned,

1n an automatic manner induced by the drawi changes maybe made in the precise embodiment shown without departingl from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing: l

Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof Figure 3 is an end view thereof.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4--4 of` F1 re 2.

Re erring now more particularly `to the drawings, a spark plug body and shell of ordinary construction is provided, the same comprising a metallic, shell 1, having a nut 2 t readed thereinto; a porcelain .3 is adapted to be positioned, in the said shell 1 by the said nut 2, the cop er gaskets 11 and 12 being provided to tage care of the difference in expansion of the porcelain and the shell as is usual in such constructions.

lA central electrode 9 is concentrically mounted in the porcelain 3, and adapted to project through the said porcelain 3 and outwardly the shell 2; a chamber 13 is provided between the end of the porcelain 3 and the lower end of the shell 2 and a vibratin element 4 orf insulating material is slidal mounted concentrically the said central e ectrode 9 and adapted to vibrate within the said chamber 13. A plurality ofde endent pins, as at 10, are provided aroun the periphery of the bottom ofthe shell 2; a metallicl bottom electrode 5 is slidab mounted concentrically the central electr e 9 on the said pins 10, being restrained thereon by any suitable means, such as the heads 14 provided on the said -pins 10; the said bottom electrode 5 is-adapted to vibrate on the said pins 10. An aperture 9 therethrough, thereby formin 16 is rovided concentrically the central electro e 9 in the said bottom electrode 10 suitably to pass -the said central electrode aV spark gap between the edge of the sai aperture 1 6 and the surface. of the said central electrode 9. A nut 7 is threaded to the said central electrode 9 and awasher 8 is ro-,Z

vided suitably to hold the said electr e 9 in position in the said orcelain 3. An electrode nut 6 is threade to the said electrode 9 suitably to receive anelectrical conductor in a manner well known tothos'e skilled in the art. The shell '1- servesyto form a part of the electrical circuitQofK-.the s ark plug when the plug l is mounted on t e engine not shown) in a manner usualto the art. n the use of my'invention, the alternate drawing in and compression of the charge in the cylinder of. the engine (not-shown) '-will'cause the vibrating element 4to reciprocably vibrate on the said central electrode 9 w1thin the chamber 13 so as-to thereby cause any carbon that may be lodged upon the said lcentral electrode 9 to be scraped and shaken off. At thersame time, thefsaid bottom electrode 5 is adapted to vibrate upon the pins 10, along the axls of the said central electrode 9, whereby 'any carbon that may .accumulate upon the wall of the aperture 16 will beshaken oi and in a like manner the contact betweentlie pins 10 and the bottom electrode 5 will bekept clean, thereby accomplishing the purpose of my invention. It is obvious that the bottom electrode 5 will prevent the vibrating element 4 from drop ing out of the spark plug.

I c aim: A The combination with a vspark plug embodying a ground shell having a plurality of ground (pins depending from its lower annular en slidably mounted on said pins, a dielectric core withinv the shell, the same being of less length than the shell, therebyproviding a chamber between the lower ends of the core an annular bottom electrode and shell, and a centralrelectrode extended through the said core with its 3 lower end dependin' below the lower end of the shell, of a die ectric vibrating element slidably mounted upon the lower end of the central electrode within the said chamber.

In testimon whereof I aix m si ature.

ED ARD W. LOC IZ. 

